Tips For Traveling With Pets By Air {Policies}

Tips For Traveling With Pets By Air

Post Last Modified – March 09, 2025 ¦ gr8traveltips.com

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A Few Helpful Tips When Traveling With Pets By Air

Planning a trip involves a lot of preparation and it becomes even more challenging, if you’re taking along a pet with you. Below, my collaborating guest author offers a few helpful tips for those who may be …

Traveling With Pets By Air

Traveling with your animal friend can be overwhelming, but it can definitely have many advantages as well. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or an arduous long vacation, bringing your fur baby along, makes the whole trip more special and a more unforgettable experience.

It can also save you from some very expensive pet boarding fees, depending on your time spent away.

There are many ways to travel with your pet; road trips, on boats, by buses, biking, running and even walking. But if you’re traveling a great distance, out of the country perhaps, the most convenient option, would be by air.

Check Each Airlines Pet Traveling Policies

WestJet Airlines

Due to a number of unfortunate incidents involving pets (mishandled, lost, or death cases), airlines have made some necessary changes with their pet policies. This significant changes help to ensure the safety of traveling animals.

It’s important to be fully aware of the rules and regulations of your chosen airline, you intend to fly with. Below, let’s have a look at the 3 options you have when boarding flights with pets.

Pets Flying In The Cabin – Baggage – Cargo

There are basically three ways to board your pet on commercial flights; in-cabin, checked baggage and manifest cargo.

Let’s have a look at the differences.

In-Cabin

Air Travel With Pets

Pets boarded as in-cabin passengers get to be with their owners right inside the plane. Although pricey, it makes for a great option if you want your pet to be near you, and can afford the extra seat.

Airlines which allow this type of flight accommodation, only provide a limited number of; in-cabin passes, for pets. If your chosen carrier has this policy in place, it’s best to book the seats, as early as possible.

Otherwise, you will get cut for sure!

For in-cabin, pets don’t actually have their own seats. They have to stay inside their kennel and one that can fit under the passenger seat. The carrier should meet the airlines’ requirements and it should have enough space, for your pet to move around inside.

Service and emotional support animals are allowed as in-cabin passengers. But you need to secure a current assessment from your 🩺 physician, and then submit it to the airline, within 48 hours.

This medical document should contain proof of medical license. It should state that you have an emotional or mental disability and you need to have your pet, with you when you travel.

Your animal companion should sit on your lap or at your feet, but never in the aisle and exit paths.

Checked Baggage

Pet Carrier

The first option is only available if your pet is small enough to fit under the passenger seat. But if your beloved animal companion is relatively big, then it needs to travel as checked 🧳 baggage, which is boarded in the cargo of the same plane you are flying.

This is considered as excess baggage and you will be required to pay additional fees.

Checked baggage is not always the recommended choice, for air travel. This is because, you can’t monitor or check on your pet whenever you wish to.

Every airline has a strict policy that passengers need to adhere to. It’s just one of the reasons why you need to do your research and find out the policies, of your chosen airline well beforehand.

To make sure that your pet is safe while in transit, the cage or crate must be …

IATA-Compliant.

The kennel must be able to be secured, and your pet can access their food and water bowls with ease.

All four sides of the crate should be well-ventilated and the floor should come with an absorbent; >floor padding. You want your furry friend to be as comfortable as is possible, for the duration of the flight.

Manifest Cargo

Dog Inside Travel Carrier

It bears the word cargo, but what makes it different from checked baggage

It means that you and your animal friend are not flying on the same plane. Your pet is on the cargo flight and will be flying on a separate aircraft. This will be either of the same airline and/or on an affiliated airline.

A manifest cargo is readily available if an airline of your choice, does not permit animals on board. Also, if you have a large pet weighing more than 30 kilograms.

For example, those considered as large dogs may be a; Saint Bernard, Great Dane or perhaps a Doberman.

In most cases, major airlines provide a group of people who are skilled in transporting live animals.

Booking/boarding your pet on a manifest cargo flight, can give you a more comfortable peace of mind. This is because the aircraft personnel have extensive knowledge of safeguarding, all types of animals for flying.

Of course, companies will do their utmost to make sure your pet is safe at all times. Otherwise, they would lose their passengers’ trust. In certain circumstances, they can even face certain consequences if your furry pal gets harmed, due to negligence.

Restricted Pet Breeds From Air Travel

Affenpinscher

An important policy pet owners should be aware of, is the list of pet breeds, that most and (if not all) airlines, have restricted.

These types of pets are classified as {brachycephalic}, which either have flat faces or snub noses. Animals with particular facial structures have difficulty in breathing during stressful situations, such as flying.

It can also be fatal, since their airways may tend to get obstructed. If they can’t breathe properly, then brachycephalics may die.

For your guidance, here are some pet breeds on the restricted list, including mixed breeds.

DOGS

Affenpinscher , Boston Terrier, Bulldog, French Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua,

Chow Chow, Griffon Bruxellois, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Pug, Shih Tzu

CATS

British and Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, Persian, Scottish Fold

Things To Pack For Pets Air Travel

Healthy Pets

To finish all the preparations for getting your pet ready for air travel, you will need to pack a few necessary essentials, for your beloved animal friend.

Here is a list of the items you need.

health records and vaccination documents;
properly labeled medications;
collar, leash, harness, pet bed;
grooming supplies, a small towel, hair rollers;
portable litter, waste pads;
dry food and a bottle of water with their containers;
catnip, toys, treats.

For your next flight with your pet, read much more about pet airline policies on their PurringPal Blog.

Policies do vary greatly among individual airlines.

As well, check out their colorful handy air travel with pets infographic below.

Footnote

If you prefer not to bring your pet along &/or have your home more secure while away,

visit TrustedHousesitters.

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